Strain isolation structures for stretchable electronics

ABSTRACT

Buffer structures are provided that can be used to reduce a strain in a conformable electronic system that includes compliant components in electrical communication with more rigid device components. The buffer structures are disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, the conformable electronic system such that the buffer structures overlap with at least a portion of a junction region between a compliant component and a more rigid device component. The buffer structure can have a higher value of Young&#39;s modulus than an encapsulant of the conformable electronic system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/658,140, filed on Jun. 11, 2012, entitled “STRAIN RELIEF STRUCTURES,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/768,939, filed on Feb. 25, 2013, entitled “MULTI-LAYER THIN FILM STRETCHABLE INTERCONNECTS,” which provisional applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, including drawings.

BACKGROUND

High quality medical sensing and imaging data has become increasingly beneficial in the diagnoses and treatment of a variety of medical conditions. The conditions can be associated with the digestive system, the cardio-circulatory system, and can include injuries to the nervous system, cancer, and the like. To date, most electronic systems that could be used to gather such sensing or imaging data have been rigid and inflexible. These rigid electronics are not ideal for many applications, such as in biomedical devices. Most of biological tissue is soft and curved. The skin and organs are delicate and far from two-dimensional.

Other potential applications of electronics systems, such as for gathering data in non-medical systems, also can be hampered by rigid electronics.

SUMMARY

The Inventors have recognized that the inflexibility of electronic systems in use are not ideal for many applications.

In view of the foregoing, various examples described herein are directed generally to systems, apparatus and methods for providing strain isolation in a conformable electronic system. The systems, methods and apparatus described herein provide effective, compact, and complex systems that include stretchable and/or flexible interconnects in electrical communication with more rigid deice components.

In an example, buffer structures are described that effectively redistributes the strain that might normally act at or near an edge of the more rigid device component or on a junction region between the stretchable and/or flexible interconnects and the more rigid device components.

In an example, a system, apparatus and method is provided that is based on thin device islands, including integrated circuitry (IC) chips and/or stretchable and/or flexible interconnects that are encapsulated in an encapsulant.

In an example, a system, apparatus and method is provided that includes a device component, at least one conductive stretchable and/or flexible interconnect in electrical communication with the device component, the at least one conductive stretchable and/or flexible interconnect forming the electrical communication with the device component at a junction region, a buffer structure, and an encapsulant encapsulating at least the device component and the junction region. The buffer structure overlaps with at least a portion of the junction region. The buffer structure has a higher value of Young's modulus than the encapsulant.

In an example, a system, apparatus and method is provided that includes a device component, at least one conductive stretchable and/or flexible interconnect in electrical communication with the device component, the at least one conductive stretchable and/or flexible interconnect forming the electrical communication with the device component at a junction region, a first buffer structure disposed over the device component, a second buffer structure disposed below the device component, and an encapsulant encapsulating at least the device component and the junction region. The first buffer structure and the second buffer structure overlap with at least a portion of the junction region. The first buffer structure and the second buffer structure have a higher value of Young's modulus than the encapsulant.

In an example, a system, apparatus and method is provided that includes a device component, a flexible base, the device component being disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, the flexible base, at least one conductive stretchable and/or flexible interconnect in electrical communication with the device component, the at least one conductive stretchable and/or flexible interconnect forming the electrical communication with the device component at a junction region, a buffer structure, and an encapsulant encapsulating at least the device component and the junction region. The buffer structure overlaps with at least a portion of the flexible base. The flexible base has a higher value of Young's modulus than the encapsulant. The buffer structure has a higher value of Young's modulus than the encapsulant.

The following publications, patents, and patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:

Kim et al., “Stretchable and Foldable Silicon Integrated Circuits,” Science Express, Mar. 27, 2008, 10.1126/science.1154367;

Ko et al., “A Hemispherical Electronic Eye Camera Based on Compressible Silicon Optoelectronics,” Nature, Aug. 7, 2008, vol. 454, pp. 748-753;

Kim et al., “Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon Integrated Circuits Incorporating Monolithically Integrated Stretchable Wavy Interconnects,” Applied Physics Letters, Jul. 31, 2008, vol. 93, 044102;

Kim et al., “Materials and Noncoplanar Mesh Designs for Integrated Circuits with Linear Elastic Responses to Extreme Mechanical Deformations,” PNAS, Dec. 2, 2008, vol. 105, no. 48, pp. 18675-18680;

Meitl et al., “Transfer Printing by Kinetic Control of Adhesion to an Elastomeric Stamp,” Nature Materials, January, 2006, vol. 5, pp. 33-38;

U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0002402-A1, published Jan. 7, 2010, filed Mar. 5, 2009, and entitled “STRETCHABLE AND FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES;”

U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0087782-A1, published Apr. 8, 2010, filed Oct. 7, 2009, and entitled “CATHETER BALLOON HAVING STRETCHABLE INTEGRATED CIRCUITRY AND SENSOR ARRAY;”

U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0116526-A1, published May 13, 2010, filed Nov. 12, 2009, and entitled “EXTREMELY STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS;”

U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 0178722-A1, published Jul. 15, 2010, filed Jan. 12, 2010, and entitled “METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF NON-PLANAR IMAGING ARRAYS;” and

U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2010 027119-A1, published Oct. 28, 2010, filed Nov. 24, 2009, and entitled “SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS UTILIZING STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS TO MEASURE TIRE OR ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS.”

Kim, D. H. et al. (2010). Dissolvable films of silk fibroin for ultrathin conformal bio-integrated electronics. Nature Materials, 9, 511-517.

Omenetto, F. G. and D. L. Kaplan. (2008). A new route for silk. Nature Photonics, 2, 641-643.

Omenetto, F. G., Kaplan, D. L. (2010). New opportunities for an ancient material. Science, 329, 528-531.

Halsed, W. S. (1913). Ligature and suture material. Journal of the American Medical Association, 60, 1119-1126.

Masuhiro, T., Yoko, G., Masaobu, N., et al. (1994). Structural changes of silk fibroin membranes induced by immersion in methanol aqueous solutions. Journal of Polymer Science, 5, 961-968.

Lawrence, B. D., Cronin-Golomb, M., Georgakoudi, I., et al. (2008). Bioactive silk protein biomaterial systems for optical devices. Biomacromolecules, 9, 1214-1220.

Demura, M., Asakura, T. (1989). Immobilization of glucose oxidase with Bombyx mori silk fibroin by only stretching treatment and its application to glucose sensor. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 33, 598-603.

Wang, X., Zhang, X., Castellot, J. et al. (2008). Controlled release from multilayer silk biomaterial coatings to modulate vascular cell responses. Biomaterials, 29, 894-903.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/723,475 entitled “SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR SENSING AND TREATMENT HAVING STRETCHABLE INTEGRATED CIRCUITRY,” filed Mar. 12, 2010.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/686,076 entitled “Methods and Applications of Non-Planar Imaging Arrays,” filed Jan. 12, 2010.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/636,071 entitled “Systems, Methods, and Devices Using Stretchable or Flexible Electronics for Medical Applications,” filed Dec. 11, 2009.

U.S. Patent Application publication no 2012-0065937-A1, published Mar. 15, 2012, and entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING TECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND COMPONENTS VIA CONFORMAL ELECTRONICS.”

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/616,922 entitled “Extremely Stretchable Electronics,” filed Nov. 12, 2009.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/575,008 entitled “Catheter Balloon Having Stretchable Integrated Circuitry and Sensor Array,” filed on Oct. 7, 2009.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/336,518 entitled “Systems, Methods, and Devices Having Stretchable Integrated Circuitry for Sensing and Delivering Therapy,” filed Dec. 23, 2011.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts described in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It also should be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The skilled artisan will understand that the figures, described herein, are for illustration purposes only, and that the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed teachings in any way. In some instances, various aspects or features may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the inventive concepts disclosed herein (the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the teachings). In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to like features, functionally similar and/or structurally similar elements throughout the various figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show top and cross-sectional side views of an example conformable electronic system, according to the principles described herein.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show top and cross-sectional side views of an example conformable electronic system, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 3A shows an example apparatus that includes a strain isolation structure, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 3B shows example results of a finite element analysis of the example apparatus of FIG. 3A, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 4 shows a plot of an example distribution of strain in an example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIGS. 5A-5B show top and cross-sectional side views of an example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIGS. 6A-6B show top and cross-sectional side views of another example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 7A-7B show cross-sectional side views of other example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 8A-8B show cross-sectional side views of other example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 9A show examples of buffer structures that have a substantially polygonal prism conformation, according to the principles described herein

FIGS. 9B-9C show examples of buffer structure having an irregular structure, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of another example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 11A shows a cross-sectional side view of another example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 11B shows the finite element model approximation for the components in an example computation of an example apparatus, according to the principles described herein.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show example results of the finite element computations of FIG. 11B, according to the principles described herein.

FIG. 13 shows a plot of the von Mises strain and first principal strain versus relative elongation for the example computation of FIGS. 12A and 12B, according to the principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and embodiments of, an apparatus and systems for embedding thinned chips in a flexible polymer. It should be appreciated that various concepts introduced above and described in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the disclosed concepts are not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

As used herein, the term “includes” means includes but is not limited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. The term “based on” means based at least in part on. As used herein, the term “disposed on” or “disposed above” is defined to encompass “at least partially embedded in.”

With respect to substrates or other surfaces described herein in connection with various examples of the principles herein, any references to “top” surface and “bottom” surface are used primarily to indicate relative position, alignment and/or orientation of various elements/components with respect to the substrate and each other, and these terms do not necessarily indicate any particular frame of reference (e.g., a gravitational frame of reference). Thus, reference to a “bottom” of a substrate or a layer does not necessarily require that the indicated surface or layer be facing a ground surface. Similarly, terms such as “over,” “under,” “above,” “beneath” and the like do not necessarily indicate any particular frame of reference, such as a gravitational frame of reference, but rather are used primarily to indicate relative position, alignment and/or orientation of various elements/components with respect to the substrate (or other surface) and each other. The terms “disposed on” “disposed in” and “disposed over” encompass the meaning of “embedded in,” including “partially embedded in.” In addition, reference to feature A being “disposed on,” “disposed between,” or “disposed over” feature B encompasses examples where feature A is in contact with feature B, as well as examples where other layers and/or other components are positioned between feature A and feature B.

A system, apparatus and method described herein provides strain isolation in a conformable electronic system. In order to create effective, compact, and durable systems, buffer structures are described herein that can be used to reduce a strain that can be exerted near a junction region between a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect or flexible interconnect and a device island when the conformable electronic system is subjected to stretching or torsion. The buffer structures according to the principles described herein are comprised of a material having elastic properties that can effectively redistribute the strain acting on the junction region between stretchable and/or flexible interconnects and rigid device islands in a device structure. For example, the stain isolation structure can be used to create a gradient in local rigidity that effectively redistributes the strain away from the junction region between the stretchable and/or flexible interconnects and the rigid device islands.

In an example system, apparatus and method according to the principles described herein, the buffer structures can be used to facilitate reduction in the concentration of the stress or strain at the junction region, i.e., the transition region from a more rigid component (such as but not limited to a device island) to a more compliant component (such as but not limited to a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect).

In an example system, apparatus and method according to the principles described herein, the buffer structure can have a curved conformation that minimize the stress or strain concentration at or near the sharp edge of integrated circuit (IC) chips. For example, the strain relief structure can be formed in a disk conformation, a torus conformation, or other closed curve conformation.

The example buffer structures can be disposed above and/or below the junction region between a more rigid component (such as but not limited to a device island) to a more compliant component (such as but not limited to a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect). The dimensions of the buffer structures are configured such that at least a portion of the buffer structures overlaps the device component and at least a portion of the buffer structure overlaps the junction region between the device component and the compliant component.

In an example, the device component can be disposed on or in a flexible base, the flexible base being formed of a material having elastic properties. In this example, at least a portion of the buffer structures overlaps the device component and at least a portion of the buffer structure overlaps the junction region between the device component and the compliant component.

An example system, apparatus and method according to the principles described herein can provide a platform of complex device integration and can be applied to many different kinds of stretchable electronic devices.

An example system, apparatus and method described herein includes at least one strain relief structure that is independent of chip geometry, compatible with conventional semiconductor processes, and provides ease of fabrication.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show top and cross-sectional side views of a conformable electronic system 100 to which the example system, apparatus and method described herein can be applied. Example conformable electronic system 100 includes device components 102 and compliant components 104 encapsulated in an encapsulant 106. The compliant components 104 are in electrical communication with the device components 102 at a junction region 108. In an example, the compliant component 104 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The encapsulant 106 can be any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. In use, the example conformable electronic system 100 can be subjected to stretching, torsion or other forces. As shown in FIG. 1A, the forces can act to cause a stretching or elongation of the system along a longitudinal direction (e.g., along. the lines of forces shown in the figure). The applied forces can cause an amount of stress or strain to be exerted at junction region 108. The stress or strain at junction region 108 can cause an amount of structural damage at junction region 108, including crack formation in, or rupture of, the compliant component 104 or the junction region 108.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show top and cross-sectional side views of a conformable electronic system 150 that includes device components 102 and compliant components 104 encapsulated in encapsulant 106. The compliant components 104 are in electrical communication with the device components 102 at junction region 108. The device component 102 is disposed in, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base 110. The compliant component 104 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The encapsulant 106 can be any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. In use, the example conformable electronic system 100 can be subjected to stretching, torsion or other forces. The flexible base 110 is to cushion the device component 102. As described in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, the stretching or elongation forces can cause an amount of stress or strain near the junction region.

FIG. 3A show a top views of an example structure that includes device component 102 disposed in a flexible base 110, encapsulated in an encapsulant 106. FIG. 3B shows results of a finite element analysis of the example structure as it is subjected to a stretching or other elongation force. Table 1 shows the materials properties of the components of this example structure of FIG. 3A, including silicon, which can be a constituent of the device component 110, a polyimide, which can be used to form the flexible base 102, and a silicone, which can be used as the encapsulant 106. FIG. 4 shows a plot of the distribution of strain (computed as Von Mises strain) in the encapsulant and in the flexible base in regions proximate the junction region between the device component and the compliant component.

TABLE 1 Table 1 Young's modulus (MPa) Poisson ratio Silicon 1.85 × 10⁵ 0.3 Polyimide  3.2 × 10³ 0.3 Silicone 0.06 0.485

FIGS. 5A and 5B show top and cross-sectional side views of an example apparatus 500 that includes a buffer structure to provide strain isolation. The example apparatus 500 includes a device component 502 and a compliant component 504, encapsulated in encapsulant 506. The compliant component 504 is in electrical communication with the device component 502 at junction region 508. The compliant component 504 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The example apparatus of FIGS. 5A and 5B includes a buffer structure 509 disposed proximate to the junction region 508 and also encapsulated in the encapsulant 506. As shown in FIG. 5B, the buffer structure 509 overlaps with at least a portion of the junction region 508. The buffer structure 509 is comprised of material that has less elastic flexibility than the material of the encapsulant 506. As a non-limiting example, the buffer structure 509 has a higher value of Young's modulus than the encapsulant 506. While the example of FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates the buffer structure 509 disposed in the example apparatus 500 proximate to and substantially below the junction region 508, it is also contemplated that the buffer structure 509 can be disposed in the example apparatus 500 proximate to and substantially above the junction region 508.

In any example system, apparatus and method described herein, the buffer structure can be either disposed on the surface of the flexible base (including an elastomer substrate), including being at least partially embedded in the flexible base (including an elastomer substrate).

FIGS. 6A and 6B show top and cross-sectional side views of another example apparatus 550 that includes a buffer structure to provide strain isolation. The example apparatus 550 includes the device component 502 and the compliant component 504, encapsulated in the encapsulant 506. The compliant component 504 is in electrical communication with the device component 502 at junction region 508. The compliant component 504 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The example apparatus of FIGS. 5A and 5B includes a buffer structure 511 disposed proximate to the junction region 508 and also encapsulated in the encapsulant 506. Rather than the solid buffer structure 509 shown for the example of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the buffer structure 511 of FIGS. 6A and 6B is formed with a substantially hollow portion. As shown in FIG. 5B, the buffer structure 511 overlaps with at least a portion of the junction region 508. The buffer structure 509 is comprised of material that has less elastic flexibility than the material of the encapsulant 506. As a non-limiting example, the buffer structure 509 has a higher value of Young's modulus than the encapsulant 506.

In an example, the inner dimension of the hollow portion of the buffer structure 511 can be positioned to overlap with a portion of the device component proximate the junction region 508, and the outer dimension of the buffer structure 511 can be positioned to overlap with the junction region 508.

In an example, the buffer structure 511 can be formed as an annular structure. In this example, the inner diameter of the annular buffer structure can be positioned to overlap with a portion of the flexible base, and wherein the outer diameter of the annular buffer structure is positioned to overlap with the junction region.

FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional side view of another example apparatus 700 that includes a buffer structure to provide strain isolation. The example apparatus 700 includes a device component 702 and a compliant component 704, encapsulated in encapsulant 706. The compliant component 704 is in electrical communication with the device component 702 at junction region 708. The compliant component 704 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The device component 702 is disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base 710. The example apparatus of FIG. 7A includes a buffer structure 711 that overlaps with at least a portion of the flexible base 710 and is also encapsulated by the encapsulant 706. The encapsulant 706 can be any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. The flexible base 710 is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant. The buffer structure 711 is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant.

FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional side view of another example apparatus 750 that includes two buffer structures to provide strain isolation. The example of FIG. 7B includes the same type of materials and components described above in connection with FIG. 7A. The description above in connection with the example apparatus 700 of FIG. 7A applies to the example apparatus 750 of FIG. 7B. The example apparatus 750 of FIG. 7B includes two buffer structures 711-a and 711-b that are disposed substantially opposite to each other, on either side of the device component 702 and flexible base 710. In the example of FIG. 7B, a central point of buffer structure 711-a approximately coincides with a central point of buffer structure 711-b. In other examples, the two buffer structures 711-a and 711-b can be displaced relative to each other in the encapsulant 706 such that a central point of buffer structure 711-a does not coincide with a central point of buffer structure 711-b, with buffer structure 711-a and/or buffer structure 711-b overlapping with at least a portion of the flexible base 710.

In the example apparatus of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the buffer structure 711, or buffer structures 711-a and 711-b, can be formed as annular buffer structures. In these example, the inner diameter of the annular buffer structure can be positioned to overlap a portion of the flexible base 710. In another example, the outer diameter of the annular buffer structure can be positioned over a portion of the junction region 708.

FIG. 8A shows a cross-sectional side view of another example apparatus 800 that includes a buffer structure to provide strain isolation. The example apparatus 800 includes a device component 802 and a compliant component 804, encapsulated in an encapsulant 806 that is formed from any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. The compliant component 804 is in electrical communication with the device component 802 at junction region 808. The compliant component 804 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The device component 802 is disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base 810. In the example apparatus of FIG. 8A, the buffer structure 811 is formed as a substantially solid structure that overlaps with at least a portion of the flexible base 810 and is also encapsulated by the encapsulant 806. The flexible base 810 is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant. The buffer structure 811 is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 806.

FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional side view of another example apparatus 850 that includes two of the buffer structures 811-a and 811-b. The example of FIG. 8B includes the same type of materials and components described above in connection with FIG. 8A. The description above in connection with the example apparatus 800 of FIG. 8A applies to the example apparatus 850 of FIG. 8B. The two buffer structures 811-a and 811-b are disposed substantially opposite to each other, on either side of the device component 802 and flexible base 810, in the example of FIG. 8B. In other examples, the two buffer structures 811-a and 811-b can be displaced relative to each other in the encapsulant 806, with buffer structure 811-a and/or buffer structure 811-b overlapping with at least a portion of the flexible base 810.

In any example apparatus according to the principles described herein, the buffer structure, including any one or more of buffer structures 511, 711, 711-a, 711-b, 811, 811-a, and 811-b, can be formed to have a substantially cylindrical conformation or to have a substantially polygonal prism conformation. FIG. 9A shows an example of buffer structures that have a substantially polygonal prism conformation, as either a solid buffer structure 900 or as a buffer structure 910 that includes a hollow portion 920. While the example of FIG. 9A is shown as having hexagonal symmetry, the buffer structure, including any one or more of buffer structures 511, 711, 711-a, 711-b, 811, 811-a, and 811-b, can be formed to have hexagonal or any other polygonal symmetry or an irregular structure.

In any example apparatus according to the principles described herein, the buffer structure, including any one or more of buffer structures 511, 711, 711-a, 711-b, 811, 811-a, and 811-b, can be formed to have an irregular structure. As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the buffer structure having an irregular structure can include at least one protruding portion that overlaps a portion of the flexible substrate, the junction region, and/or a portion of the compliant according to the principles of any of the examples herein is contemplated.

FIG. 9B shows a top view of another example apparatus that includes a buffer structure to provide strain isolation. The example apparatus includes a device component 952 and a compliant component 954, encapsulated in an encapsulant 956 that is formed from any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. The compliant component 954 is in electrical communication with the device component 802 at junction region 958. The compliant component 954 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The device component 952 is disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base 960. In the example apparatus of FIG. 9B, the buffer structure 961 is also encapsulated by the encapsulant 956 and is formed as an irregular structure including a protruding portion 961-a. The buffer structure 961 can be disposed in the example apparatus such that the protruding portion 961-a overlaps with at least a portion of the device component 952, with the junction region 958 and/or with flexible base 960. As shown in FIG. 9B, the buffer structure 961 also can be disposed such that the protruding portion 961-a overlaps with at least a portion of the compliant component 954. The flexible base 960 is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 956. The buffer structure 961, including protruding portion 961-a, is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 956.

FIG. 9C shows a top view of another example apparatus that includes a buffer structure to provide strain isolation. The example apparatus includes a device component 982 and a compliant component 984, encapsulated in an encapsulant 986 that is formed from any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. The compliant component 984 is in electrical communication with the device component 802 at junction region 988. The compliant component 984 can be a stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. The device component 982 is disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base 990. In the example apparatus of FIG. 9B, the buffer structure 991 is also encapsulated by the encapsulant 986 and is formed as an irregular structure including two protruding portions 991-a and 991-b. The buffer structure 991 can be disposed in the example apparatus such that the protruding portions 991-a and 991-b overlap with at least a portion of the device component 982, with the junction region 988 and/or with flexible base 990. As shown in FIG. 9B, the buffer structure 991 also can be disposed such that the protruding portion 991-a and 991-b overlap with, and can be disposed along the sides of, at least a portion of the compliant component 984. The flexible base 990 is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 986. The buffer structure 991, including protruding portions 991-a and 991-b, is formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 986.

Any example apparatus described herein can be formed as a multi-layer apparatus that includes multi-layer arrangement of the device components and the compliant components. In this example, the multi-layer apparatus can include at least one buffer structure that is positioned relative to the junction region between at least one device component and at least one compliant structure according to the principles of any of the examples described herein. Where the multi-layer apparatus includes a device component disposed on or at least partially embedded in a flexible base, the multi-layer apparatus can include at least one buffer structure that is positioned relative to the junction region between at least one device component and at least one compliant structure according to the principles of any of the examples described herein. In various examples, the multi-layer apparatus can include two, three, four or more buffer structures, each of which is positioned in an example multi-layer apparatus relative to a device component, a junction region, a flexible substrate, a stretchable, and/or a flexible interconnect according to the principles of any of the examples described herein. In any of the examples that include two or more buffer structures, at least two of the buffer structures can be disposed relative to each other such that a central point of the first buffer structure approximately coincides with a central point of the second buffer structure, or at least two of the buffer structures can be disposed relative to each other such that a central point of the first buffer structure is displaced relative to a central point of the second buffer structure.

In another example, the buffer structures described herein can be disposed in an example apparatus that includes multiple interconnections between device components. FIG. 10 shows a top view of an example apparatus 1000 that includes two buffer structures. The example apparatus 1000 includes two device components (devise component 1002-a and device component 1002-b). The example apparatus 1000 includes compliant components 1004-a and 1004-b and compliant components 1005-a and 1005-b, each formed as stretchable and/or flexible interconnect. As shown in FIG. 10, some of the compliant components (such as compliant components 1004-a and 1004-b) can provide electrical communication between device components at a junction region (such as junction region 1008-a). Other compliant components (such as compliant components 1005-a and 1005-b) can provide electrical communication at a junction region (such as junction region 1008-b) between device components and an external device, such as device 1018. As also shown in FIG. 10, at least one of the devise components (devise component 1002-a and/or device component 1002-b) can be disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base (such as flexible base 1010-a or flexible base 1010-b). The example apparatus 1000 can be encapsulated in an encapsulant 1006 that is formed from any material having elastic properties, including a polymer or other polymeric material. The example apparatus of FIG. 10 also includes buffer structures 1011-a and 1011-b, each of which is also encapsulated by the encapsulant 1006. The buffer structures 1011-a and 1011-b can be disposed in the example apparatus 1000 such that it overlaps with at least a portion of a device component (devise component 1002-a and device component 1002-b), with a junction region (junction region 1008-a or junction region 1008-b), with at least a portion of a flexible base (flexible base 1010-a or flexible base 1010-b), and/or with at least a portion of a compliant component (compliant components 1004-a, 1004-b, 1005-a, or 1005-b). The flexible base 1010-a or 1010-b can be formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 1006. The buffer structure 1011-a or 1011-b can be formed from a material that has a higher value of Young's modulus than the material of the encapsulant 1006.

In any of the example apparatus according to the principles described herein, the stretchable and/or flexible interconnects can be formed from a conductive material. In any of the examples described herein, the conductive material can be but is not limited to a metal, a metal alloy, a conductive polymer, or other conductive material. In an example, the metal or metal alloy of the coating may include but is not limited to aluminum, stainless steel, or a transition metal (including copper, silver, gold, platinum, zinc, nickel, titanium, chromium, or palladium, or any combination thereof) and any applicable metal alloy, including alloys with carbon. In other non-limiting example, suitable conductive materials may include a semiconductor-based conductive material, including a silicon-based conductive material, indium tin oxide or other transparent conductive oxide, or Group III-IV conductor (including GaAs). The semiconductor-based conductive material can be doped.

In any of the example apparatus according to the principles described herein, the intersection structure, the flexible base, and/or the encapsulant can be formed from any material having elastic properties, subject to the described relationship of elastic properties required for each apparatus. For example, intersection structure, the flexible base, and/or the encapsulant can be formed from a polymer or polymeric material. Non-limiting examples of applicable polymers or polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, a polyimide, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a silicone, or a polyeurethane. Other non-limiting examples of applicable polymers or polymeric materials include plastics, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, elastoplastics, thermostats, thermoplastics, acrylates, acetal polymers, biodegradable polymers, cellulosic polymers, fluoropolymers, nylons, polyacrylonitrile polymers, polyamide-imide polymers, polyarylates, polybenzimidazole, polybutylene, polycarbonate, polyesters, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers and modified polyethylenes, polyketones, poly(methyl methacrylate, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxides and polyphenylene sulfides, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polyurethanes, styrenic resins, sulphone based resins, vinyl-based resins, or any combinations of these materials. In an example, a polymer or polymeric material herein can be a UV curable polymer, or a silicone such as but not limited to ECOFLEX® (BASF, Florham Park, N.J.).

In various examples, the flexible base and the buffer structure can be formed from the same polymer or polymeric material, or from different polymers or polymeric materials. In an example, the encapsulant can be a silicone such as but not limited to ECOFLEX® (BASF, Florham Park, N.J.).

For applications in biomedical devices, the encapsulant should be biocompatible. The stretchable and/or flexible interconnects can be embedded in a polyimide that also acts as a mechanical reinforcement.

In any of the example structures described herein, the stretchable and/or flexible interconnects can have a thickness of about 0.1 about 0.3 about 0.5 about 0.8 about 1 about 1.5 μm, about 2 μm or greater. The buffer structure and/or flexible base can have a thickness of about 5 about 7.5 about 9 μm, about 12 μm or greater. In any example herein, the encapsulant can have a thickness of about 100 about 125 about 150 about 175 about 200 about 225 about 250 about 300 μm or greater.

FIG. 11A shows a cross-sectional side view of an example apparatus 1100 that includes two buffer structures, which is used as a model to perform a finite element analysis (described in connection with FIG. 11B). The example of FIG. 11A includes a device component 1102 disposed or at least partially embedded in a flexible base 1110, buffer structures 1111-a and 1111-b that are disposed substantially opposite to each other, on either side of the device component 1102 and flexible base 1110, all encapsulated in encapsulant 1106. The example of FIG. 11A includes the same type of materials and components described above in connection with equivalent components of any of the previous example apparatus.

FIG. 11B shows the finite element model approximation for the encapsulant 1156, the flexible base 1160, the buffer structure 1161, and the device component 1152. In this example, the flexible base and the buffer structures are approximated as being comprised of a polyimide. The encapsulant is approximated as being comprised of a silicone. The device component is approximated as being comprised of a silicon-based device.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show example results of the finite element computations. FIG. 12A show example results of the finite element computations of the example apparatus 1100 of FIG. 11A being subjected to a stretching or elongation force. FIG. 12B show example results of the finite element computations of an example apparatus similar to FIG. 11A which does not include buffer structures 1111-a and 1111-b, also being subjected to the stretching or elongation force. FIG. 12B shows that, in the absence of buffer structures, the area 1260 of higher strain concentration in the encapsulant coincides with the edge of the device component 1250, even though the device component 1250 is disposed in a flexible base. A junction region of an electrical communication between a device component and a compliant structure could be disposed proximate to this edge. Such a concentration of strain as shown in FIG. 12B could cause damage to the junction region during a stretching or elongation, including possibly resulting in rupture of the junction region. In addition, such a concentration of strain at the edge can cause interfacial delamination between the device component and the flexible base near the edge. By comparison, FIG. 12A shows that the buffer structures 1210 cause the area 1220 of higher strain concentration in the encapsulant to shift from the edge of the device component 1200 or the flexible base, to instead be concentrated in an outer area. As a result, a strain that might develop at the junction region of an apparatus is channeled away from that area. Such a distribution of strain as shown in FIG. 12B could reduce the risk of or prevent damage to the junction region during a stretching or elongation, thereby maintaining the performance of the apparatus. In addition, there is less risk of interfacial delamination between the device component and the flexible base near the edge. In an example, the buffer structure in FIG. 12A can be extended to the edge of the high strain concentration region.

FIG. 13 shows a plot of the von Mises strain and first principal strain versus relative elongation for the computation of FIGS. 12A and 12B. In particular, FIG. 13 shows that the values of von Mises strain and first principal strain in the apparatus without a buffer are higher than for the apparatus that includes a buffer structure.

The example apparatus described herein can be fabricated using any technique in the art. For example, the conductive materials of the stretchable and/or flexible interconnects can be fabricated using evaporation, sputtering, or other deposition technique, and then patterned according to the desired conformation. The flexible base, the buffer structure, and/or the encapsulant can be formed using, e.g., spin-coating or casting and using a mask or a mold to define the desired shape of the component.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be examples and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

The above-described embodiments of the invention may be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, some embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. When any aspect of an embodiment is implemented at least in part in software, the software code may be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single device or computer or distributed among multiple devices/computers.

Also, the technology described herein may be embodied as a method, of which at least one example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”

As used herein in the specification, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a device component; a conductive stretchable interconnect electrically coupled with the device component at a junction region, the conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a first layer of the apparatus; a buffer structure positioned in a second layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first layer of the apparatus, the buffer structure being formed from a non-conductive material; and an encapsulant encapsulating the device component and the junction region.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure has an annular shape with an inner edge surface defining an inner diameter of the annular shape and an outer edge surface defining an outer diameter of the annular shape.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inner edge surface of the buffer structure is horizontally offset from the junction region in a first direction, and wherein the outer edge surface of the buffer structure is horizontally offset from the junction region in a second opposing direction.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the device component is disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure has a disk shape with a central axis and an outer edge surface defining an outer diameter of the disk shape.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the buffer structure is positioned relative to the device component such that the central axis of the buffer structure is horizontally offset from the junction region in a first direction and such that the outer edge surface of the buffer structure is horizontally offset from the junction region in a second opposing direction.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive stretchable interconnect is embedded in a polymer, and wherein the encapsulant encapsulates the polymer.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the polymer is a polyimide.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure is formed from a polymer.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the polymer is a polyimide.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive stretchable interconnect comprises gold, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, silver, a doped semiconductor, a conductive polymer, or any combination thereof.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encapsulant is an elastomer.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device component is disposed on a flexible base.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure is sized, shaped, and positioned to redistribute strain imparted on the apparatus away from the junction region.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure is more rigid than the encapsulant.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure is formed from a first material having a first value of Young's modulus and the encapsulant is formed from a second material having a second value of Young's modulus that is less than the first value of Young's modulus.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer structure is thicker than the conductive stretchable interconnect.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first layer is in a first X-Y plane and the second layer is in a second X-Y plane, the first and second X-Y planes being spaced from each other along a Z-axis that is perpendicular to both of the first and second X-Y planes.
 19. An apparatus comprising: a device component; a conductive stretchable interconnect electrically coupled with the device component at a junction region, the conductive stretchable interconnect being positioned in a first layer of the apparatus; a first buffer structure positioned in a second layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first layer of the apparatus, the first buffer structure being formed from a non-conductive material; a second buffer structure positioned in a third layer of the apparatus that is spaced from the first and second layers of the apparatus, the second buffer structure being formed from a non-conductive material; and an encapsulant encapsulating the device component and the junction region.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first buffer structure has a first an annular shape with an inner edge surface defining an inner diameter of the first annular shape and an outer edge surface defining an outer diameter of the first annular shape, and wherein the second buffer structure has a second an annular shape with an inner edge surface defining an inner diameter of the second annular shape and an outer edge surface defining an outer diameter of the second annular shape.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the inner edge surfaces of the first and second buffer structures are horizontally offset from the junction region in a first direction, and wherein the outer edge surfaces of the first and second buffer structures are horizontally offset from the junction region in a second opposing direction.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the device component is disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, a flexible base.
 23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the conductive stretchable interconnect is embedded in a polymer, and wherein the encapsulant encapsulates the polymer.
 24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first buffer structure or the second buffer structure is formed from a polymer.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the polymer is a polyimide.
 26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the conductive stretchable interconnect comprises gold, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, silver, a doped semiconductor, a conductive polymer, or any combination thereof.
 27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the encapsulant is an elastomer.
 28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first buffer structure is positioned in the second layer adjacent to a first side of the device component and the second buffer structure is positioned in the third layer adjacent to a second opposing side of the device component such that a central axis of the first buffer structure is concentric with a central axis of the second buffer structure.
 29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first buffer structure is positioned in the second layer adjacent to a first side of the device component and the second buffer structure is positioned in the third layer adjacent to a second opposing side of the device component such that a central axis of the first buffer structure is not coincident with a central axis of the second buffer structure.
 30. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second buffer structures are sized, shaped, and positioned to redistribute strain imparted on the apparatus away from the junction region.
 31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second buffer structures are more rigid than the encapsulant.
 32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second buffer structures are formed from a first material having a first value of Young's modulus and the encapsulant is formed from a second material having a second value of Young's modulus that is less than the first value of Young's modulus.
 33. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second buffer structures are each thicker than the conductive stretchable interconnect.
 34. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first layer is in a first X-Y plane, the second layer is in a second X-Y plane, and the third layer is in a third X-Y plane, the first, second, and third X-Y planes being spaced from each other along a Z-axis that is perpendicular to each of the first, second, and third X-Y planes. 